Bartonella Clarridgeiae Bacteremia Detected In An Asymptomatic Blood Donor.

Human exposure to Bartonella clarridgeiae has been reported only on the basis of antibody detection. We report for the first time an asymptomatic human blood donor infected with B. clarridgeiae, as documented by enrichment blood culture, PCR, and DNA sequencing.53352-

<i>Bartonella</i> spp. Bacteremia in Blood Donors from Campinas, Brazil

<div><p><i>Bartonella</i> species are blood-borne, re-emerging organisms, capable of causing prolonged infection with diverse disease manifestations, from asymptomatic bacteremia to chronic debilitating disease and death. This pathogen can survive for over a month in stored blood. However, its prevalence among blood donors is unknown, and screening of blood supplies for this pathogen is not routinely performed. We investigated <i>Bartonella</i> spp. prevalence in 500 blood donors from Campinas, Brazil, based on a cross-sectional design. Blood samples were inoculated into an enrichment liquid growth medium and sub-inoculated onto blood agar. Liquid culture samples and Gram-negative isolates were tested using a genus specific ITS PCR with amplicons sequenced for species identification. <i>Bartonella henselae</i> and <i>Bartonella quintana</i> antibodies were assayed by indirect immunofluorescence. <i>B. henselae</i> was isolated from six donors (1.2%). Sixteen donors (3.2%) were <i>Bartonella</i>-PCR positive after culture in liquid or on solid media, with 15 donors infected with <i>B. henselae</i> and one donor infected with <i>Bartonella clarridgeiae</i>. Antibodies against <i>B. henselae</i> or <i>B. quintana</i> were found in 16% and 32% of 500 blood donors, respectively. Serology was not associated with infection, with only three of 16 <i>Bartonella</i>-infected subjects seropositive for <i>B. henselae</i> or <i>B. quintana</i>. <i>Bartonella</i> DNA was present in the bloodstream of approximately one out of 30 donors from a major blood bank in South America. Negative serology does not rule out <i>Bartonella</i> spp. infection in healthy subjects. Using a combination of liquid and solid cultures, PCR, and DNA sequencing, this study documents for the first time that <i>Bartonella</i> spp. bacteremia occurs in asymptomatic blood donors. Our findings support further evaluation of <i>Bartonella</i> spp. transmission which can occur through blood transfusions.</p></div

Flowchart of the culture and PCR-based procedures performed to determine <i>Bartonella</i> prevalence in 500 blood donors from Campinas, Brazil.

<p>Flowchart of the culture and PCR-based procedures performed to determine <i>Bartonella</i> prevalence in 500 blood donors from Campinas, Brazil.</p